I have added this page to try to relay to folks how important taking care of your roof is. I have had customers spend countless thousands of dollars this year on preventable water damage.
Scroll down to read about alternative repairs I perform.
Added Note March 2010: Almost ALL trailers and R.V's after 1994 have a rubber roof. Most people don't even realize it. There are quite a few "handy men" out there that are putting the wrong types of sealant on; particularly "Kool Seal" "Kool Seal" does make a rubber roof coating, but it can only be bought through an RV parts store. YOU CANNOT PUT METAL ROOF COATING ON A RUBBER ROOF. IT WILL EAT IT, it will cause it to crack open. Metal roofing materials are made from petroleum products. Almost everyone knows that petroleum products eat rubber.
Rubber roofs are often a subject that makes even the most seasoned camper want to squirm at the sound of them. Fact is, if they're taken care of, they'll last an incredibly long time.
The biggest Mis-conception is repair people who tell you that you need a new roof, for about 3 to 5 thousand dollars. At that point, pick up the phone and call me. Most times roofs don't have to be replaced unless a tree fell on it or something devastating happened. Even if you have damage, we cut out the liner, the plywood, replace the roof beams / stringers/ wall studs, etc only in the area that is affected. There has long been this mentality that once damage happens to a part of the roof, to replace the entire roof. Why should you care if your membrane is 2 pieces? As long as you don't have leaks, it simply doesn't matter. We've been doing splices for 5 years now and have yet to have a call back for a leak. To rip a perfectly good liner off a perfectly good roof in the areas that are not damaged is just a way for companies to charge you 4 or 5 thousand dollars what we can do for 1 thousand.
An other not well known fact. All rubber roofs come with typically a 10 year guarantee. However, you need to read your warranty information. If the appropriate preventative maintenance is not done, you will void your warranty.
The biggest issue of all is the selants around the objects that stick through the rubber liner. ie: plumbing vents, t.v. antennae, and everything on top of the roof. Also where the membrane starts and stops. This sealant needs to be checked every two years at the most. The rubberized sealant costs 9 dollars a tube and usually you need no more than 10 tubes. That's a bargain compared to a new ceiling, walls, etc. Always remember if your roof is constantly in direct sunlite, like at the beach, all these recommended time frames should be cut in half.